Everybody occasionally experiences oiliness on their scalp, which is fine and completely normal. Sebum, or hair oil, supports and protects healthy hair.
However, an oily scalp could be an issue if your hair constantly feels greasy or dirty. Read on to learn more about the causes of oily scalp and oily scalp treatment in Singapore.
What is an Oily Scalp?
An oily scalp occurs when oil glands produce sebum, making your hair greasy. Oily hair may be a hereditary issue that occurs when the glands, detecting that the scalp needs hydration, go into overdrive and produces excessive sebum.
Other reasons, such as the weather and poor hair care habits, may also be responsible for sebum overproduction. The resulting oily hair can result in dandruff, irritation and limp hair.
Since the hair follicles responsible for hair growth can become blocked with sebum and debris, the scalp is susceptible to infections and hair loss. Your hair may also become dull, stringy and hard to manage.
What are the Common Causes of an Oily Scalp
The oil in your hair is part of your body’s defence system for the sensitive hair on your scalp. While hair oil is beneficial for your scalp, with some hair types, oil accumulation can occur. Additionally, the accumulation can occur to a visible level in less than 24 hours.
An oily scalp can be due to various factors, and here are some other common causes of an oily scalp.
Genetics
The amount of oil produced by your glands and the thickness of your hair may be influenced by genetics. If someone in your immediate family has an overly oily scalp, you might too.
Overwashing hair
Washing may seem like a surprising reason for oily hair. After all, aren’t you clearing excess oil? Excessive washing, though, can be problematic. When you shampoo your hair, your scalp receives a signal to produce more sebum. It can go into overdrive with too frequent hair washing, resulting in oil buildup on your scalp.
Using the Wrong Shampoo
The perfect shampoo must address your scalp’s needs and hair texture. A “moisturising” or “repairing” shampoo may cause naturally oily scalps to be greasy. This is because it contains a lot of plant oils that may be too moisturising for the texture of hair and ends up leaving an oily residue.
In contrast, shampoos containing strong and harsh ingredients like sulphates can strip the hair. This lack of moisture can cause the oil glands to create excessive amounts of oil.
How to Treat Oily Scalp
It can be difficult to treat an oily scalp. Washing your hair is one way to get rid of an oily scalp, but, as mentioned earlier, doing it too often and with the wrong product can be bad for your hair. Let’s take a look at some effective oily scalp treatments in Singapore.
Get the Right Shampoo
There are special shampoos that are particularly effective at removing oil from your scalp. When you use them, you’ll notice that your hair remains fresh, clean and oil-free for a longer period of time after sebum has been neutralised.
For instance, TrichoLab’s oil control shampoo contains salicylic acid, which helps to clean clogged hair follicles and prevent oil buildup. It is a safe and effective method to clarify the scalp, where product buildup is cleared.
Wash Your Hair Properly
Washing your hair seems obvious and straightforward but there are best practices to prevent an oily scalp.
Gently massage a small amount of shampoo into your roots and scalp to thoroughly wash your hair. Keep your nails away from the strands to prevent extra friction. Scrubbing too hard can aggravate your scalp and increase oil production.
Instead of concentrating on your hair’s length, pay attention to your scalp, which is where the oil is. Never exfoliate or directly apply shampoo to the ends of your hair. Rather, as you rinse, let the shampoo run through the ends.
Have a Healthy Diet
The food you eat may also damage your scalp. You should avoid high-carb, fatty, spicy and non-nutritious foods as they cause an oily scalp. Instead, you should include the following nutrients to promote a healthy scalp:
- Vitamin B & E: Vitamin B-rich foods, such as beans, vegetables and fruits, can help your hair look incredible. Vitamin E, which is found in leafy green vegetables, sunflower seeds and nuts, can do the same.
- Zinc: While many foods contain zinc, oysters, red meat, and poultry are the best dietary sources.
- Essential Fatty Acids (EFA): Foods like nuts, seeds, fatty fish and whole grains that haven’t been refined contain significant amounts of EFAs.
Sebum Control Treatment
With TrichoLab’s Sebum Control or oily scalp treatment in Singapore, you can balance and control the amount of oil in your scalp. To help control oil production and treat scalp inflammation, the treatment features ingredients such as papaya and pineapple enzymes that moisturise the scalp while gently exfoliating it, as well as Centella Asiatica and green tea ingredients.
Some key benefits of this treatment include the following:
- Preventing overproduction of scalp oils
- Gently clearing scalp buildup
- Fighting acne-causing bacteria
- Calming and soothing mild irritation
Salicylic Acids Peel
A salicylic acid peel treatment is recommended for people with excessive oil production, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and product buildup on the scalp. A gentle exfoliator without harsh ingredients is used in this treatment to promote hair growth.
The key benefits of this treatment are the following:
- Eliminating sebum buildup on the scalp surface.
- Reducing scalp irritation and itching
- Balancing pH level
- Promoting hydration and minimising dry scalp
You Deserve A Healthy Scalp
Some hair types are more likely than others to accumulate oil. However, there are several natural remedies, hair care products and treatments you can try to reduce how greasy your hair looks. Consult a hair specialist for assistance if you’re worried about how oily your scalp appears or if it gets irritated frequently.
TrichoLab consists of certified and trained hair specialists. For more information, contact us or speak to one of our scalp specialists at +65 6336 1106.
